From George Washington to William Heath, 21 August 1780

Head Quarters Orange Town 21st Augt 1780

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 17th reached me last Evening. I have received intelligence that Sir Henry Clinton went
himself towards the East End of Long Island on the 16th and that the troops at Whitestone were again embarking. I have an
account of Sir Henry’s movement through two different Channels—that the embarkation only thro’ one. I can hardly suppose
that he will, considering the present position of this Army, venture to carry a force from New York sufficient to make an
attempt upon Rhode Island; but that you may have the earliest intelligence of any movements, I have desired Genl Arnold
and Major Tallmadge to transmit immediately to you any well grounded information they may receive. This you will of course
communicate to the General and Admiral of France.

They are apprehensive in New York of an embarkation of troops for the West Indies, but I have nothing from
thence which satisfies me of the truth of the report. I am with great Regard Dear Sir Your most obt Servt

Go: Washington

P.S. I have just heard that Genl Clinton was certainly in New York the day before Yesterday.

You Are Looking At

Reference

Cite as

“From George Washington to William Heath, 21 August 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, last modified June 13, 2018, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-02994. [This is an
Early Access document
from The Papers of George Washington.
It is not an authoritative final version.]

More between these correspondents

The National Historical Publications and
Records Commission (NHPRC) is part of the National
Archives. Through its grants program, the NHPRC supports a wide range of activities to
preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of
the United States, and research and development projects to bring historical records to the
public.

Founders Online is an official website
of the U.S. government, administered by the
National Archives and Records Administration
through the NHPRC, in partnership with the
University of Virginia Press,
which is hosting this website.